Plate mounting means for rotary printing machines



Oct. 17, 1950 L. H. MORSE PLATE uourmnc MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1945 l4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvEArra/e LAWREfiC'h. MORSE ATTORA/EY5 Oct. 17, 1950 I... H. MORSE 2,525,931

PLATE MOUNTING MEANS lf'OR ROTARY PRINTINQMACHINES Filed April 19, 1946 l4 Sheets-Sheet 2 man/m2 Ii MOESE BY 7 QM/1, Team/ flew L. H. MORSE Oct. 17, 1950 PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZJVVENTOE' LAh ZENCE h! M0255 B) flak/2,

Oct. 17, 1950 1.. H. MORSE 2,525,931

PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1950 1.. H. MORSE 2,525,931

PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES i WW %(2 @MM/ Oct. 17, 1950 L. H. MORSE 2,

PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 5%, EM/JIM Oct. 17, 1950 H. MORSE 2,525,931

PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES l4 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed April 19, 1946 INVENTOR.

MMNCE h. M0/E5E BY "II I 0 a rm/ea ns Oct. 17, 1950 L. H. MORSE 2,525,931

PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet E) I T-r'I 1 2// 2/2 Z/h s i 206 20'? Z03 09 2/3 202 N 1 205 I 2/0 20/ i1 Z06 '/WF l E ii 15 I JNVENT'OE LAWRENCE HQ MORSE Mr. 9

I KMM, Vim/$77k faaufi/ Oct. 17, 1950 L. H. MORSE 2,525,931

PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR. LAWEBVCE /7. H0255 BY A rmewsm IL. H. MORSE 2525,31

PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 11.

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I? Tram 5x1 L. H. MORSE PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHIIIES Filed April 1.9,, 19% 14 Sheets-5M1; l2

/3 4T- j W 230m H. MORSE Oct. 17, 1950 PLATE uoun'rmc umns FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES L. H. MORSE Oct. 17, 1950 PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 WIM 29 rolls may be readily removed.

Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLATE MOUNTING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Application April19, 1946, Serial No. 663,517

8 Claims. (Cl. 101-375) This invention relates to printing machines and particularly to offset printing machines which print in one or more colors on one or both sides of a work sheet. 1

The act of printing on both sides of a sheet requires two offset rolls, and it is found convenient to have them directly opposed so that they may perform the function of platen rolls for each other. To prevent their offsetting upon each other, however, it is necessary that they be separated at all times except when a sheet of paper is passing between them. Therefore, one or the other of the offset rolls must be movably mounted. Since the pattern roll or rolls, from which the image is offset to the paper, must be kept in correct registration with the offset roll to maintain a clear image, it becomes necessary to move it or them, also, and in a proper fashion to preserve such registration.

An obvious expedient is to have the offset roll and the pattern rolls, along with their necessary inking devices, all mounted in a unitary structure and to cause this structure to move up and down to effect the offset roll separation. Such a structure, however, becomes exceedingly heavy when large rolls and inking devices are used, and much difficulty and complication is entailed in a mounting of it for rapid reciprocation.

An object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the various rolls are separately mounted for individual movement relative to the machine frame, and whereby such movements may be correlated to preserve the registration. This object is accomplished by pro viding separate frames for the movable offset roll and for each of its pattern rolls and associated inking mechanism. These frames are individually hinged to themain machine frame and are interconnected with a linkage for the proper con trol of their movement.

In a printing machine of this type, the offset rolls carry a blanket of rubber or similar composition, and the pattern rolls carry their pat terns as embossed or intaglio plates, or as planographic plates. When changing the various blankets and plates, or when servicing the machine,

and usually requires more or less dismantling of the adjacent parts.

Another object of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of means whereby the Accuracy of alignment of the roll shafts is imperative for accurate printing, and I accomplish the above objects without disturbing the shafts by providing cutouts in the rolls which clear the arms carrying the shaft bearings, in the case of those rolls which are endwise removable, and which clear their rotary supports on the shafts, in the case of those rolls which are radially removable.

Another object is to provide means which, dependent upon the presence or absence of a sheet in printing position, will raise or lower the movable offset roll and will also, through the linkage previously mentioned, move the coacting pattern rolls.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent by the following specification and claims and the appended drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a printing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the pattern rolls and its attendant inking mechanism; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the offset plane 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 5 .is a vertical section taken on the plane 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the offset plane 66 of Fig. 1 illustrating the lower offset roll and the paper feeding and detecting device; Fig. 7 is a vertical section, illustrating the latter device, taken on the plane 'l'| of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the machine illustrating the mechanism for moving the upper offset roll; Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the plane 9-9 of Fig. 1 illustrating the power drive; Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on the plane lit-l0 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the plane H--H of Fig. 3 i1 lustrating a device for separating the pattern rolls from their respective offset rolls; and Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken on the plane l2--I2 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a portion of a machine illustrating an upper pattern roll mounted in position; Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 and illustrating the shell of such roll in the act of being removed from its drum; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a clamping block, forming part of the connection between the drum and shell; Figs. 16 and 17 are vertical sections illustrating the upper offset roll and either of the upper pattern rolls and showing the shell first as mounted on the drum and then in the act of being removed. The position of these sections with reference to one of the upper pattern rolls is indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines on Figs. 13 and 14 respectively. Figs. 18 and 19 are vertical sections taken along the correspondingly numbered lines on Figs. 16 and 1'? respective; Fig. 20 is a transverse section as indicated by the line 202il on Fig. 17; Fig. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view indicated by the line 2i2l on Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a lower pattern shell being removed from its drum in the press; Fig. 23 is a transverse section, as indicated by the line 2323 on Fig. 22.

Brief preliminary description In the preferred embodiment, illustrated generally in Fig. 1 of the drawings, I provide a printing machine having two offset rolls, the lower one E of which has a shaft fixedly carried by the main frame F, and the upper one ll of which is carried by a swinging carrier comprising side plates 52 pivoted at E3 on the frame. The offset rolls are adapted to print upon opposite sides of a sheet which is delivered to the machine, by mechanism indicated conventionally at H3, and is fed to the rolls at the proper time by a paper feed and detecting mechanism indicated generally at 55. After printing, the sheet is delivered from the machine by an ejecting device [6.

Each offset roll may transfer a two-color image from two pattern rolls. The lower roll it receives a black image, for example, from the pattern roll 25 and a red image from the pattern roll 2!, and the roll I! receives its two colors from pattern rolls 22 and 23.

Each pattern roll is provided with an inking mechanism, the roll mounting and the inking mechanism comprising a unitary structure. For reasons of simplicity in manufacture and in servicing, these structures in the case of the four pattern rolls may be substantially identical; they are illustrated in detail in Figs. 3, 4, and 13 to 23 inclusive. As there shown, the pattern roll is carried by a swinging frame comprising two side plates and 26 which are pivoted at 21 on the main frame F and, in the case of the lower two pattern rolls, are supported by link blocks 28, best seen in Figs. 3 and 11, having eccentric mountings 0n the frame. In the case of the upper two pattern rolls, the side plates are similarly pivoted to the main frame but are supported by means of adjustable links 30 and. 3! which tie them to the side plates Q2 of the offset roll carrier.

To separate the offset rolls when the machine is not printing or when a sheet is inadvertently absent at the feeding position, I provide a separating mechanism which, as shown in Fig. 8, is adapted to raise and lower the offset roll carrier I2 by turning an eccentric shaft which supports the carrier.

To drive the various rolls and to preserve their proper registration, each of the offset and pattern rolls is provided with a gear 36 whose pitch diameter is equal to the diameter of the roll. The gear which is associated with the lower offset roll is power driven by mechanism illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10.

Paper feeding and detecting upon the paper.

ID and I1. Normally, the rollers 39 and ill are separated so that no driving occurs, and a series of stop fingers 4| stand across the path of the paper, as indicated in broken lines at ii. The leading edge of the sheet engages the fingers until, at the proper time in the cycle, the fingers are withdrawn and the feed rollers are engaged to move the sheet forwardly.

The upper roller 39 comprises a series of spaced sections, as shown in Fig. 6, on a shaft #22 carried in bearings on the main frame and provided with a gear 43. The gear is constantly driven from the gear 36 of the offset roll ll through an idler 44.

The lower roller 30 is adjustably mounted, as indicated at 45, on a swinging frame pivoted at i! on the main frame F. The frame 65 carries a cam follower 38 which constantly engages a large disc cam 49 on the lower offset roll iii. The cam is provided with a short raised dwell 50 which, at the proper time in the rotation of the roll, is adapted to swing the frame upwardly to press the roller 45, and hence the sheet S, against the rotating driving roller 33.

The frame 46 also carries an angularly adjustable extension 51 which bears against the supporting block 52 of the stop fingers. When the carrier 6 is rocked upwardly by the cam E9 the extension rocks the bar 52, against the action of a light tension spring 53, to withdraw the stop fingers immediately before the sheet is thrown forwardly by the feed rollers.

The presence of the sheet is detected by a feeler 55 which is carried by a shaft 56 and. rests The sheet bridges a groove 51 in the feed roller 4% and, in the absence of a sheet, the feller drops into the groove. The angular position of the shaft 56 is thus dependent upon the presence or absence of a sheet in feeding position and is adapted to control the raising and lowering of the upper offset roll, as will next be described.

Separation of ofiset rolls As best seen in Fig. 8, the angular position of each of the side plates [2 0f the upper offset roll carrier about its pivot I3 is determined by a support comprising a link 66. A cross shaft 6|, having bearings in the main frame F, is provided with an eccentric portion '32 which pivotally supports the links. Rotation of the shaft is thus adapted to raise and lower the carrier to alter the spacing of the offset rolls Ill and H. Normally the shaft is turned to roll separating position by means of a tension spring 63 which is anchored to the main frame at 63% (Fig. 2) and which urges counterclockwise a block 65 adjustably secured at 66 to a plate 61 which, in turn, is drivingly secured to the shaft.

Mechanism is provided whereby the shaft 6! is turned to lower the offset roll H to printing position during the non-printing portion of each cycle of the machine and whereby the presence or absence of a sheet in feeding position determines whether the roll remains in position to act upon the sheet, or whether it is again raised before the printing portion of the cycle commences, to prevent offsetting upon the other roll in the absence of a sheet. A bell crank it is pivoted at H on the main frame and is linked at 12 to the block 65. A cam follower 13 on the bell crank coacts with a cam 14 on the shaft of the lower offset roll Ii] and, at the proper time in each cycle, a rise 15 on the cam lifts the bell s crank to rock the block 65 in a clockwise direction to lower the roll, II'. I

The cam follower 13 may be hinged, as shown, on the bell crank whereby itmay beidly swung out of the way when the cam 14 is rotated in the opposite direction, as duringmanualmanipulation of the machine during the initial registration of the rolls. I I I The bell crank I0, having been raised to roll engaging position shown, is retained in such position when a sheet isproperly present in the machine. The feeler shaft 56, previously mentioned, is provided with an arm "I6, and the bell crank 19 carries an adjustable shoulder I1. When a sheet is absent, a spring; not shown, urges the feeler 55 downwardly into the groove of the feed roller 40 and swings thearm I6 in the direction of the arrow to idle position. As the rise 15 of the cam then leaves the cam follower, the spring 63 and a second tension spring 18 are free to rock the bell crank and the block 65 back to; roll separatingposition. A sheet present at printing position, however, lifts the feeler and the arm 16 is swung to the position shown. As the shoulder TI is lowered by the action of the cam I4, the arm is sprung asida against the action of a light tension spring I6, and. then snaps into the shoulder. The shoulder isfprevented thereby from rising and the offset rolls are prevented from separating.

The offset rolls I and II are constructed with the usual gaps in their peripheries which provide for the attaching devices for their offsetting blankets. As indicated in Fig. 8, the positioning of the rolls occurs at a time in the cycle when their two gaps are in registration and before the leading edges I9 of their offset surfaces come into engagement.

Each of the side plates I2 of the offset roll carrier is individua ly hingedto the frame at I3 and each has an adjustable eccentric connection 89 with its respective supporting link 60. Differential raising or lowering of thetwo sides may thus be obtained in the initial adjustment for uniformity of printing pressure along the line of print ng contact. I I i A dashpot 82 may be provided to prevent the shock which might be occasioned, when the bell crank Ill and its associated parts are released by the cam M. The dashpot may be interposed as shown, between the bell crank and a pivotal anchorage on the main frame at 83 and may be controlled by a valve 84. I

Rocking of pattern roll unit As previously mentioned, each pattern roll is carried by a pair of side plates 25 and 26 which are pivoted to themain frame at ,21. In the case of the roll 22, the side plates, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are supported, about their pivots by a pair of links 39 which extend from the shaft of the roll to the shaft of theupper offset roll. The links may be of the nature of turnbuckles as shown, whereby the shaft spacingsat the front and the rear of the machine maybealtered to obtain the required uniformity of contact of the rolls. As the upper offset roll is raised and lowered by the mechanism of Fig. 8, thepattern roll is thus rocked about the pivots 21, and the continued meshing of the gears 36 ofthe two rolls preserves proper registration.

The case of the upperpatternroll 22 or 23 is somewhat, simpler in that the pivots2'l of its side plates may coincide with the pivots I3 of the upper offset roll carrier I2 (Figs. 1; 2, Band 13). Thus, by interconnecting the ends of the roll shaft with the side plates I2 by means of a pair of links or turnbuckles 3|, there is produced, in effect, an integral structure. This structure is simply rocked around the pivot I3-2'I by the raising and lowering mechanism of Fig. 8, and the proper registration of the two rolls is at all times preserved.

Release of pattern rolls from offset rolls When the machine is standing idle or when the blankets or plates are to be changed, it is necessary to withdraw the pattern rolls from the offset rolls to prevent injury of the surfaces. In the case of the lower two rolls 20 and 2| this is accomplished by rocking the side plates about their pivots 21. As previously mentioned, each plate is supported by a link 28. As best seen in Figs. 3, 11 and 12, the links are plvotally supported on the eccentric portion 85 of a shaft 96 which extends across the main frame. When the shaft is oscillated the links move up and down to engage and disengage the pattern roll with the offset roll. The shaft is maintained in roll engaging position by means of a block 8'! which is pinned to the shaft and which carries a pivoted dog 88. The dog is spring pressed into contact with the face of a disc 89, adjustably secured to the main frame, and, at the proper angular position of the shaft, it snaps into a notch 99 in the disc.

A handle 9| is provided to withdraw the do from the notch and thereafter to turn the shaft. The handle is freely rotatable on the end of the shaft and has a limited angular movement relative to the block 81 by reason of a pin and slot connection at 92. The dog 88 is provided with a beveled extension 93 which is engaged by a beveled portion 94 of the handle during the first portion of the movement of the latter. Thus a clockwise movement of the handle from the position illustrated in Fig. 12 serves first to withdraw the dog from the notch and then to turn the block 81 and the shaft. When the block reaches a stop lug 95 on the disc the links 28 :are lowered sufliciently to withdraw the pattern roll. The side plates 25 and 26 are individually positionable with respect to their links 28 by reason of eccentric bushings 96 having handles 91 for manual adjustment and clamping nuts 98 to retain the bushings in adjusted position.

Separation of the pattern rolls 22 and 23 from the upper ofiset roll accomplished by turning the eccentric center shafts I of the pattern rolls. The shafts are rotatable in hearings in the side plates 25 and 26 and the rolls rotate on ball bearings on an intermediate eccentric portion of the shaft corresponding to that at85 of the shaft 86 just described. Each of the shafts I09 may be provided with a, handle and positioning device comprising parts identical with those at 81 through and the same reference characters have been repeated on the drawings (Fig. 1).

Removability of ofiset and pattern rolls Each of the rolls may be removed from its shaft for servicing and for replacement of the printing surface. Referring to the lower pattern roll 20, best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and 22 and 23, it will be noted that the shaft I05 is carried non rotatively by arms I06 of the side plates 25 and 26. A drum IU'Irevolves on a pair of ball bearings I08 on the shaft. The drum drivingly carries a gear 36 at one end and is provided with 75 a reduced cylindrical portion I09 at the other may then, also, be similarly lifted off.

end. A split block IIU is clamped upon the portion I09 in adjustable angular position, as by a clamping screw IN. The block is rabbeted at II 2 and is provided with a grooved stud H3 for reasons later to be described.

The embossed or planographic plate I of the pattern roll is clamped, as at H6, 0n the cylindrical surface of a partial shell I i'i which is longitudinally slidable on the drum I iii. The shell has sufiicient circumferential bearing on the .drum, between the two edges 52d of Figs. 3 and 22, to insure accurate concentricity of the drum and shaft. The drum I0? is sufficiently large and the arms I06 of the side plate are sufficiently narrow to allow the gap in the shell to pass over the arms when the shell is moved longitudinally, as clearly indicated in Figs. 22 and 23.

The shell is rigidly held to the drum at the forward end by means of a lip I2I on the shell which passes beneath an overhanging rib 522 on the gear, and at the rear end by an engagement with the stud I if? of the split block. As best seen in Fig. 3, a bar IE3 is rigidly secured across the end of the shell and is provided with an aperture having a sliding fit on the stud i I3. When the shell is slid onto the drum the bar registers with the rabbeted block at I E2 and is maintained in proper longitudinal position against the block by means of a thumb screw I24 which is carried by the bar and engages with the groove of the stud.

The construction and mounting of the pattern roll 25 may be identical with that just described while the lower offset roll I6 need differ only in that it is provided with appropriate attaching means for the rubber blanket and carries a. sheet lifting device I36 later to be described. The offset roll is carried by depending arms ISI of the main frame F. The rear arm, as in the case of those at it, is narrow enough to clear the gap in the shell.

In the case of the upper pattern rolls 22 and 229 endwise withdrawal is prevented by the links 33 and 3i and is unnecessary since there is unlimited clearance above when the cover C is removed. The shell and mounting of each of these rolls may be identical with that just described for the roll 29, differing only in the shape of the drum. To allow the shell to be withdrawn radially from the drum, the central portion I35 of the latter is reduced in diameter, as indicated in Figs. l6, l7 and 21. The end regions I36 and I3? are of the same diameter as before so that the parts, when assembled, appear in the posi tions shown.

To remove the shell 22 or 23 it need merely be released at I24 and slid lengthwise sufficiently for the lip I2! to clear the region 536. The shell may then be lifted off the drum in a radial direction, inasmuch as the the inner arcuate edges Ififi of the shell can pass over the reduced diameter at I35 and the rectangular block IIE. This is clearly indicated in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, showing the shell in the act of being removed.

The upper oifset roll shell is identical with the lower offset roll shell except that the position of the sheet lifting device I39 (hereinafter described) is mounted in a left hand position on one shell and a right hand position in the other, as indicated in Fig. 1. upper ofiset shell is mounted is identical with the drums for the two upper pattern rolls and as'shown in Figs. 16 and 17 After the pattern rolls 22 and 23 are lifted off, the offset roll If The drum on which the r uting roll I52.

I nlcing mechanism The particular form of inking mechanism for the pattern rolls is immaterial to my invention and a brief description only will be made of the illustrated embodiment. The inking systems for the four pattern rolls may be identical and, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, each comprises a series of rollers which conduct the ink from a fountain roller I 40 to the pattern plate II5. A train of gears associated with the rollers derives power from the gear 36 of the pattern roll for the proper rotation of the rollers and of a cross shaft MI. The shaft carries a crank I42 for the reciprocation of the ratchet drive I43 for the fountain roll. An adjustable shroud I44 is provided for the ratchet wheel to control the action of the pawl in the usual manner.

The shaft I M is also provided with a cam I45 which is adapted to rock the carrier I45 of a ductor roll I41, the latter serving to pass the ink intermittently to a receiving roll 48. The film of ink is smoothed out by passing in succession to rolls I49, I58 and I5I and thence to a distrib- The latter is reciprocated longitudinally by means of an eccentric I53, on the shaft I4I, which serves to rock a bellcrank'I54 carrying a roller in engagement with a grooved head I55 secured to the roll shaft.

The ink is passed from the roll I52 to the printing plate by a pair of form rolls I555. The ends of the form roll shafts I5? are carried in swinging blocks I58 pivoted at I59 on the side plates.

A tension spring I60 (Fig. 3), interconnecting the blocks, urges the form rolls into engagement with the pattern plate and the distributing roll. A cross shaft IBI extends between the side plates and carries a pair of throw-out cams E62 to spread the pairs of blocks I58, at either side of the device, to cause a slight separation of the rolls when the machine is standing idle. The cross shaft I SI is provided with a handle IE3 at the rear of the machine. The form rolls ma be carried on eccentric portions of their shafts whereby they may be individually withdrawn from the pattern roll by a turning of'the handle I54, illustrated in Fig. 2, at the front of the machine.

Printing operation With a sheet properly positioned in the feeding and detecting device I5, and with the upper offset roll in printing position, continued operation of the machine will project the sheet into the space caused by the gaps in the offset rolls. The rolls, in the meanwhile, are revolving and the leading edges of their offset blankets B engage the sheet at some point beyond its leading edge. The two-color images are then transferred to both sides of the sheet and, due to the tackiness of the ink. the sheet adheres usually to one or the other of the offset blankets. A series of stripping fingers is associated with each roll whereby the sheet, instead of continuing with the roll, will be directed to the ejecting device I6.

A lower series of stri ping fingers I'm. is ri idly carried by the main frame F, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, while an upper series I 'II is mounted on the carrier I2 of the upper offset roll. To lift the leading edge of the sheet from the roll, and thus allow the stripping fingers to penetrate beneath the sheet, each of the offset rolls is provided with a sheet lifting device I30 previously mentioned. Such device comprises a series of fingers I12 (Fig. 1) which normally lie below the periphery of the offset shell which carries them,

immediately ahead of the leading edge of the blanket. The fingers are carried by a U-shaped bracket pivoted onthe shell of the roll at H3 and resiliently held in idle position against a stop, not shown, by a spring I14. The bracket carries a roller I15 which, at the proper time, engages an abutment or roller I'IB carried by the main frame. Two of such abutments are provided, as shown, for coaction with the devices of the respective offset rolls. rocks the bracket outwardly and the fingers I12 push the adheringnsheet outwardly onto the stripping fingers I10 or I'll, the fingers I12 passing through the gap between the latter.

Delivery from the machine The ejecting or delivery device It comprisesa frame which carries an upper and lower series of endless tapes between which the sheet is moved to the exterior of the machine. This frame is so mounted that it may be conveniently-removed This engagement my machine is very compact and hence compara tively small and comparatively light for an ap paratus adapted to print at onetime in tvvoi' colors on both sides of a sheetQSimple means are provided for separating the different rolls from each other without disturbing their individual adjustment. Suchfseparation prevents clogging from the drying of ink and allovvs the ready cleaning of the rolls, andrnay also be em- 'to print only one color'on one or on both sides" of the sheet or desired to print in one or two ployed as to some of the rolls when it is desired colors on one side only.

The frame of the machine and the supports forthe different rolls are so devised that the shells of all the rolls may be readily withdrawn from and inserted into the main frame F of the machine during servicing operations. As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the devicecomprises a pair of side plates E80 rigidly secured to spacing bars I8I and providing bearings for two pairs of rollers I I82 and I33. The inner rollers are provided with gears HM and I85 respectively, the former gear being adapted to mesh with an idler gear I80 when the frame is inserted into the machine. The idler is in constant engagement with the gear 36 of the lower offset roll. A series of endless tapes I81 and I88 pass around their respective rollers I02 and I83 and are maintainedin proper position by adjustable spacing devices I89.

A track bar I90 is secured, as at I9I, at each side of the main frame F and each of the side plates I80 is provided with a pair of recessed blocks I92 having a sliding fit on the trac'kbar whereby the unitary device is supported in the machine and may be slid lengthwise therefrom. Each track bar is provided with a notch I93 into which the outer blocks I92 may drop when the device is in proper position adjacent the stripping fingers I10 and in I86.

Power drive shaft 20I through a pulley belt 202 and a friction clutch 203. A pinion 204 on the shaft drives,

engagement with the idler to enable change in their printing forms. The

shells of the four pattern rolls are of identical form and size and maybe interchanged if desired.

The feeding of sheets to the machineisvery readilyeffected and is under control of adetector mechanism to prevent the j'offset rolls impressing each other in case I of absenceof'a sheetin the feeding mechanism. The delivery mechanism is likewise simple and is enclosed within thecasing This delivery mechanism is of the machine.

self-contained and isreadily withdrawable as a unit to allow access to the printing region. I claim: i

1. In a printing machine, a pair of spaced: frame members, a drum rotatably mounted be-L tween and supported byfsaid frame members, a

segmental cylindrical shell mounted on said drum and having an internal segmental annular surfface adjacent each end to engage axially spaced portions of the drum periphery, said shell having a gap extending therethrough and axially from; end to, end thereof, the width of said gap at said; inner annular surfaces being smaller than the diameter of the shell supporting portionsof said drum, the portion of the drum intermediate said 1 shell supporting portions and. a portion. thereof through idlers 205, 206 and 201, the gear;36 of the lower offset roll. Engagement of the friction.

clutch may conveniently be effected by means of a bar 208 pivoted at 200 to the frame and adapted to slide a clutch operating member 2I0 into and out of engagement with the clutch. The bar 208 may have a pin and slot connection with a rod 2I I which is adjustably slidable and is provided with a knob 2|2 for actuation by the operator. The shaft 20I may be provided with a hand wheel 2H3 for such manual positioning of the rolls as may be required during servicing of the machine.

As will be observed from the assembly views,.

betweenfbne shell supporting portion and its adjacent frame member having a diameter smaller than said gap width and an axial extent greater than that of thedrum supporting regionssaid shell having a portion intermediate said internal annular surfaces having a greater axial extent and gap width than the length and diameter respectively of the end portions of the drum, whereby said shell may be slid axially of said drum to disengage the shell from the end portions of the drum and then moved axially to remove the shell, and releasable means to hold the shell,in position on the drum.

2. In a printing machine, a pair of spaced frame members, a shaft carried by and extending between said members, a drum rotatably mounted on said shaft and spaced inwardly at one end from the adjacent frame member, a segmental cylindrical shell mounted on said drum and having an internal segmental annular'surface adjacent each end. to engagethe end por tions 'of the periphery of said drum, said shell'.

having a gap extending entirely therethrough and axially from end to end thereof, the width of said gap at said inner annular surfaces being smaller than the diameter of the shell supporting portion of said drum, said drumhaving a region.

intermediate said shell supporting portions, having a diameter smaller than said gapwi dth, said shell having a portion intermediate said internal annular surfaces having: a greater axial extent.

and gap widththan the length and diameter respectively of the end portions of the drum; whereby said shell may be slid axially of said drum to disengage the shell from the end portions of the drum and then moved axially to remove the shell, and releasable means to hold the shell in position on the drum.

3. In a printing machine, a pair of spaced frame arms, a drum rotatably mounted between said arms, a segmental cylindrical shell mounted on said drum and having an internal segmental annular surface adjacent each end to engage the end portions of the periphery of said drum, said shell having a gap extending entirely there through and axially from end to end thereof, the width of said gap at said inner annular surfaces being smaller than the diameter of the shell supporting portion of said drum, releasable means to secure the shell in position on said drum, said drum having a region intermediate said shell supporting portions having a diameter smaller than said gap width, said shell intermediate said internal annular surfaces having a gap width greater than the diameter of the end portions of the drum, said shell being slidable axially of said drum to disengage the coacting surfaces of the drum and shell and then removable from the drum by an axial movement of the shell.

4. In a printing machine, a pair of spaced frame members, a drum extending between and mounted for rotation in said frame members and having cylindrical shell supporting arms adja cent its ends, a cylindrical shell mounted on said drum and having an internal substantially annular surface adjacent its ends to engage the periphery of said drum, said shell having a gap extending radially through the shell and axially from end to end thereof, the width of said gap at said inner annular surface bein smaller than the diameter of the shell supporting portion of movement and in an adjusted angular position relative thereto, a. shell positioning member fixed to said block, said shell being slidable axially of said drum across said block, and releasable means carried by the drum and coacting withsaid positioning means to retain the shell in a fixed position relative to said block, whereby said shell is retained on said drum and is restrained against axial movement relative to said drum by engagement of said inner annular surfaces with said drum and is restrained against rotative movement relative to said drum by said positioning means.

5. In a printing machine, a pair of spaced frame members, a shaft extending between and secured to said frame members, a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation on said shaft, a cylindrical shell mounted on said drum and having an internal substantially annular surface to engage the periphery of said drum, said shell having a gap extending entirely through the shell and axially from end to end thereof, the width of said gap at said inner annular surface being smaller than the diameter of the shell support-- ing portion of said drum, a gear mounted on one end of said drum and having an annular flange extending over said drum and spaced from the periphery thereof, the opposite end of said drum having a portion having reduced diameter, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said portion, means to clamp the sleeve to the drum in any desired angular position relative thereto, a shell positioning member fixed to said sleev e, said shell being slidable axially of said drum and having a flange at one end adapted to engage the inner periphery of said gear flange, and releasable means carried by the other end of said shell and coacting with said positioning means to retain the shell inposition on said drum whereby the smallerthan thev diameter of said drum and the width of the gap; being larger than the width of said arm, an abutment at one end of said drum against which one 'end of said shell abuts, the opposite end of said drum having a portion having a reduced diameter, a block rotatably mounted on said portion, means to clamp the block to the drum, in an adjusted angular position relative thereto, a shell positioning member fixed to said block, said shell being slidable axially of said drum out of engagement with said abutment across said block and arm, and releasable means carried by the drum and coacting with saidpositioning means to retain the shell on said drum in a fixed position relative to 7 said block.

7.111 a printing machine,'a pair of spacedframe arms, a drum rota-tably mounted between said arms, a segmental cylindrical shell mounted on said drum and havingan internal segmental annular surface adjacent each end thereof to engage the end portions of the periphery of said drum, said shell having a gap extending entirely therethrough and axially from end to end thereof, the width ofsaid gap at said inner annular surfaces being smaller than the diameter of the shell supporting portionoisaid drum, said drum having an outward extending portion at one end having areduced diameter, a block rotatably mounted-on said last named drum portion, means to clampthe block thereto in an adjusted angular position'relative to said drum, a shell positioning member fixed to said block, said shell being'slidable axially of said drum across the block and the adjacent frame arm, and a member carried by the drum and coacting with said positioning means to retain the shell in position on said drum against both axial androtative movement relative thereto, one of said membersbeing releasable whereby said shell may be slid ax-ially to remove the shell from thedrum.

8. In a printing machine, a pair ofspacedframe arms, a shaft carried by and extending between said arms, a drum rctatably mounted on said shaft, a segmental cylindricalshell mounted on said drum and having an internal segmental annular surface adjacent-each end toengage the end portions of the periphery of said drum, said shell having a gap extending entirely therethrough and-axially from end to end thereof, the width of said gap at said inner annular surfaces beingsmaller than the diameterof the shell supportingportion of said drum, said drum-liavinga region intermediate said shell supporting portions having adiametersmaller than said gap-width, I 

